I was not a runner until we moved to Florida, so I never really needed anything more than regular leggings and a long-sleeved athletic top, and that was rare. Now I am back in a four-season state, and temps have dropped.
I like to run around 5 miles if that makes any difference at all. There is a temp below I simply will not run (not sure what that is), but I am looking for suggestions for leggings (fleece-lined??) and other things for running in colder temps. Let’s say in the 40s. I can’t imagine I would run below 40 degrees.
I tried the Athleta Ranier leggings on in Florida but decided I wouldn’t use them enough there. I did have to go up a size. Is that typical for lined leggings?? Are leggings the best choice?
Any suggestions for gloves/hats/tops you wear or how you layer up would be helpful. I don’t have to look particularly cute while running. Trying not to spend a fortune. I usually run three times a week, but I may scale back to only twice a week - brrrrr.
My favorite cold weather leggings are the fleece lined from Eddie Bauer. They are warm but not crazy heavy. (I have another pair from LL Bean that is for sub 0 degrees but I would sweat in them if doing vigorous exercise).
If it’s crazy cold, I’d rather put rain/wind resistant trail pants over the leggings. REI has my favorite of those.
Smartwool/quick dry beanies for hats or just a headband. For gloves I find that I end up taking them off as my hands start to sweat. My go to would be just glove liners.
You had me at “don’t have to look cute while running” haha. Good for you, keeping up with it despite the temps. If weather was 40 degrees, I would be happy with over the knee capris, a tech shirt and Nike fleece lined half zip top (not super thick fleece either). Gloves (which I often remove while running); maybe an ear wrap. I would only go to my Athleta fleece lined full length tights if it was in the 30s. Then I would also add a knit hat over the ear wrap. Add a gaiter. And longer socks to block wind from hitting my ankles. Hope this helps!
Granted, I’m not as hard core as I used to be, when I’d wear shorts down into the 20s in the dark… but, in the 30s, I’d still be in 10-15 year old regular thin Target capris. For an hour run +/- 10 minutes, I can’t see needing anything more than that in the 40s.
I find that keeping my head and hands warm are the main issue. And I just wear a regular stocking cap (currently tourist shop hats from Iceland/Austria) and gloves from Target. I find men’s gloves are better made and fit me better, though I am 5-10 with super long limbs and ET fingers. Gloves that have the fold over mittens are nice too.
I wear a long sleeve shirt (currently just a ribbed one from Walmart) covered by a cheap zippered hooded men’s sweatshirt (also from walmart). I liked to ball up my hands in the sweatshirt and have the hood up in the beginning. But I also run before 5am in the dark! After 5-10 min the sweatshirt typically comes off in the 40s and is tied around my waist.
I don’t think I’d need fleece line tights unless I was doing a long 2+ hour run with windchills in the 0s or -0s! But my recommendation is to start with something like above… layers… If you’re running an hour, go out 15 minutes, turn around and run back. You should be chilly the first 10 minutes. If you’re warm starting out, it’s too much! once you’re back, reassess and then repeat… You’ll figure it out fairly quickly.
I’m going to assume your 40’s is at least a midwesterners 30 degrees.
I like Athleta fleece leggings for those very coldest days (more like 20 degrees). Mine are several years ago but they absolutely have lasted. I think a good fleece legging that is at least 7/8 in length.
I prefer to only wear a fleece or other not overly warm headband. I can’t do a full hat and I will sweat no matter the temps.
Layers - usually sports bra-tshirt, base layer long sleeve and then some type of quarter zip over that for the coldest days. Finger holes on that last layer.
Never really found the perfect gloves. And for running I do prefer gloves over mittens. I often just use the Costco touch gloves that are decent on warmth. Sometimes a gaiter for my neck.
I have a pair of athleta gloves. They are super light and I can stuff them in a pocket easily. I bought them one year on super clearance. I tried to link them but athleta is completely sold out.
Don’t underestimate the value of a vest. I’m a big vest person.
I don’t run that much anymore but I like to be warm so I wear my fleece leggings probably more than others.
For reference, this is my sister (mid 50s) who HATES to be cold. She recently ran a 4ish hour marathon in the mid 40s and it rained the entire time. This is what she wore. And unlike me, she is tiny… 5’3” with bird like bones
I only have one thing to add. DO NOT WEAR ALL BLACK. Even in the daytime with the glare and shadows -runners are hard to see.
We have a woman runner who wears all black- looks beautiful but very hard to see at times. Just wear a light colored hat, top, jacket, or vest. I had to tell a 70 ish daughter that her 90 ish mother who walks daily alone was not visible with all black on. Her mother thankfully changed to a fashionable white and is dramatically more visible from the car. Now, if only the woman runner would do the same.
I wear the Rainier tights and they are good into the upper teens. Any colder than that and I won’t run. If it’s in the 30s I don’t need lined leggings and I just wear regular spandex tights.
I’m not a runner but I do sometimes play pickleball when it’s in the 20s. I wear lined leggings, layers on top, plus thin gloves (mittens may actually keep you warmer). I typically wear multiple tech fabric layers - a tight fitting tee, with a long sleeved top over it, and then a tech kind of jacket (like Patagonia) or when it’s really cold my short down puffer coat (REI brand, not really thick). I wear a fleece thing that covers my ears, and a neck gaitor thing, but I don’t wear an actual hat. I almost always wind up with my jacket off after a few minutes.
I’m a power walker, not a runner, so I probably don’t get quite as hot as some of the faster folks on this thread. This year I bought Lululemon Fast and Free Thermal Tights and they have been great at keeping me comfortable when the temps are around the 40-degree mark or lower.
Along with the tights, it’s a long-sleeved tech shirt, a thin-ish jacket, and a baseball-type cap. Most of my jackets have thumbholes or built-in mittens, so I don’t usually need gloves unless it’s closer to freezing.
There is a common saying that if you are running in a temperature of N degrees (Fahrenheit), dress as if you will be comfortable at rest at N+20 degrees. Of course, you may feel cold when you are just starting your run. Also, there may be individual variation in terms of whether +20 is right for you, or if +15 or something else is right for you.
It is the windchill that can be a problem when you are running… after all, you are moving at the speed of least 5 mph! I like cross country ski tights with windstopper fabric for chilly, windy days.
I like to have various layers. Combination depends on temps, wind (feels colder) and sunshine (intense in Colorado, makes it feel much warmer).
I favor items with hoods, high zip collar, full zip (so I can take off and tie around my waist), zip pockets (so things don’t fall out). Sometimes my layers include a bike shirt with rear pockets for hat etc. Headbands and dollar store gloves can be helpful, especially at the cold startup where I walk a few minutes. A few times I’ve run in the 20s and 30s, with shorts (to add pockets and extra warmth) over my leggings. But since I am retired I try to pick warmest part of the day, often over 40 degrees. I do avoid any day with unsafe footing.
I have a ridiculous amount of running and pickleball clothing. But most of it has been purchased on half price day at ARC thrift shop, usually around $3/item. Last week I did splurge on a lovely $5 Marmot jacket. It has a great hood with visor, big zip pockets (can hold pickleballs) and “pit zips” to avoid overheating. I think it will be great for hiking layer too.
I like cross country ski tights with windstopper fabric for chilly, windy days.